Electric cut-out



(No Model.) I

H. A. CHASE.

ELECTRIC OUT-OUT.

No. 432,979. Patented July 29, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. CHASE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 432,979, dated July 29, 1890.

Application filed March 31, 1890. Serial No. 845,947. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. CHASE, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electric Cut-Outs, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

In another application filed by me February 3, 1890, Serial No. 338,998, I have shown an electric cut-out comprising an electro-magnet, which is included in the circuit, and a drop or a heavy or weighted wedge-block held in elevated position by the retracted armature of said electro-magnet, which drop in falling, as when the armature is attracted, engages suitable contact-pens. In said application this block and contact-pens constitute a circuit-changer, the movable member of which is operated by the armature of the electro-magnet. The circuit-changer shown in said application,in addition to illustrating broad principles, which are therein claimed, has certain specific funciionsviz., to shunt the instrument to be protected-and hence the wedge-block is made of metal or other conducting material.

This invention has for its object. to con struct an electric cut-out on substantially this same plan, the circuit-changer, however, having the specific function of breaking the circuit.

In carrying out this invent-ion a wedgeblock is made of rubber or other insulating material, and is held in elevated position by the armature of the electromagnet, and the contact-pens normally touch each other, so that a continuous current passes through them; but when the wedge-block falls it enters between the said contact-pens, thus breaking the circuit and at the same time preventing the formation of an are between the said pens.

Figure lshows in side elevation an electric cut-out embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the cut-out shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a cross-section of the cut-out shown in Fig. 1, taken 011 the dotted line a m; Fig. l, a diagram showing the circuit, and Fig. 5 a

modification to be referred to. Y

The base-plate A has arranged on it an electro magnet a preferably having two helices, one Wound on the other on a single core; but in lieu of this particular construction of electro-magnet any other suitable form may be employed. The armature b of the said electro-magnet is pivoted at b to an upright or support b and a spring Z2 is attached to the armature, which is acted on by a set-screw Z) to normally hold-the armature retracted. A wedge-block (Z, of rubber or other suitable insulating material, is attached to or formed as a part of a plate or bar 0, pivoted at c. This block of insulating material is made wedge-shaped for the specialpurpose of entering between two contact-pens d (1 when falling, the said contact-pens (Z (Z normally b a ing against each other and included in the line at one side of the instrument.

The Wedge-block (Z is held in elevated position by means of the armature b, said armature having pins 0, which co-operate with ears orprojections formed on the end of the plate or bar 0. As herein shown, the wedgeblock constitutes the movable member of a circuit-breaker.

\Vhen an abnormal current passes over the line, the armature Z) being attracted,the Wedgeblock d will fall, and separating the contactsprings (Z (Z will break the circuit at one side of the instrument to be protected. As the pens d d are separated, the wedge-block immediately occupies the space, so that an arc cannot form; or, if the parts should be so constructed that an arc should be drawn orform ed, the insulating-block would immediately destroy it.

Instead of having the electro-magnet in cluded in the line at both sides of the in strument, as shown in the diagram, it may be included in only one side.

Referring to Fig. 5, the wedge-block, instead of being attached to a plate which is pivoted at its lower end, is shown as attached to a plate pivoted at its upper end or hung on the end of the armature Z). I11 this instance the operation is the same as in Fig. 1; and, furthermore, instead of the block falling by gravity, it may be moved by a spring.

I claim- In an electric cut-out, an electro-magnet included in a closed low-tension circuit and its armature, combined with a plate, as c, and Wedge-block 01,01? insulating material thereon, said plate being held in elevated position by the retracted armature, and contact-pens included in circuit with the coils of said electro-magnet and normally bearing against each other, which pens are separated by the entrance between them of said Wedge-block IO d when the latter is moved by the attraction of the armature to thereby break and render inoperative the circuit, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of r 5 two subscribing Witnesses.

HENRY A. CHASE. Witnesses:

GEO. W. GREGORY, EMMA J. BENNETT. 

